This condition might be a bit hard to swallow

Most people don’t think twice about producing saliva as it just happens. The Emergency Dentist Sydney knows this isn’t the case for people that suffer from dry mouth, otherwise known as xerostomia. Dry mouth causes discomfort due to a lack of saliva and can affect teeth and gums as well as quality of life.

What is dry mouth and why do I have it?

Dry mouth is due to a lack of saliva being produced in the mouth and can occur for a variety of reasons, such as nerves, stress, sadness. It can also be linked to certain medications you may be taking or a sign of a more serious condition.

Saliva does more than just keep your mouth moist. It assists with the digestion of food, breaking down bacteria and is needed to chew properly and swallow.

Potential reasons that could lead to your dry mouth and lack of saliva include:

Those who smoke cigarettes or vapes tend to experience dry mouth more so than people who don’t.
Many medications list dry mouth as a side effect. Some of these include antihistamines, antidepressants, pain killers and blood pressure medication.
Some medical conditions may lead to dry mouth such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and HIV/AIDS to name a few.
Radiation and chemotherapy may cause loss of saliva or a change in saliva texture during cancer treatment.
Menopause is known to affect the salivary glands.

Some signs that you may have dry mouth

Everyone is likely to experience some form of mouth dryness which generally goes away however, the following symptoms may not disappear which would indicate you have a dry mouth condition which requires treatment. These symptoms include:

Difficulty chewing and swallowing
Bad breath
A sticky, tacky feeling in the mouth
Dryness down to the throat
Tingling or burning sensation on the tongue
Chapped or cracked lips
Decreased sense of taste
Metallic taste in your mouth
Mouth sores/ulcers
Difficulty speaking

Can my dry mouth be treated?

Generally, your dry mouth can be treated but first you must identify the cause of it. There are also a few things you can do that may restore moisture in the mouth, even if it’s just to give you temporary relief – some remedies may include:

Drink water or sugarless drinks often – drinks that contain sugar could make your dry mouth worse.
Avoid caffeine (coffee and tea) as these can cause the mouth to dry out.
Chew sugarless gum or mints as this can stimulate the production of saliva.
Try and cut out smoking and alcohol completely.
Re-evaluate your diet to lessen the intake of spicy or salty and fried foods.
Try a humidifier when sleeping.
Gargle a mouthwash that is designed to help with dry mouth.
If you suspect medication is the cause, always discuss this with your GP as they may be able to offer alternatives.